Apparatus for aerial navigation.



M. FERRERO.

APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGAIIUN.

APPLIGATION FILED .TAN17, 190B.

1;O- 23,369, Patented Apr. 16. 1912.

3 SHEETS -SIIBET 1.

M. FERRBRO. APPARATUS FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLIQATION FILED JAN. 17, 1908.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

3 BHBBT8-SHEET 3.

. ciprocating I movement -a' subject of the UNITED; sTATEs PATENT orrion,

-M,ANFBEDO FEBBERO, F-T:UB.IN, ITALY.

T all mama 65mm;

" 2 Be it"known that I, MANrRuo'o FERRERO, King of Italy, residing at"Turin, in Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in orRelating to Apparatus for Aerial Navigation, ofwhich the following'is-alspecification.

This invention relates to apparatus for aerial navigation in which theascending movement as -:well, as the balancing are obtained by means-ofsurfaces having a resimilar to that of wings, while'the propulsion oradvance is -'obta1ned'by'1neans:of a screwpropeller.

A construction. of apparatus according to this invention is illustrated,by Way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which-. m

Figure l i838. general perspective view of the apparatus. Fig.2. is across section in avertical plan "Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in avertical plane. Fig Lisa front elevation, and Fig. 5-is a side'elevationof .the drivingspindles and gear. Fig. 6 shows in perspective the methodof transmitting movement to the wings. Fig. 7 is'a side view of theshutters of the wings with the springs for keeping them closed. Fig. 8

is a vertical section through theshutters of the wings.

The framework ofthe central part of the apparatus is constituted btransverse frames 1, the widthof which increases toward the rearend ofthe apparatus, the said frames being connected by longitudinal members2. .'At the back of thesaid body descend vertical-bars intended toconnect the apparatus to a bottom platform and having mounted thereonthe motor 3 and the bracket'or support for the propeller4; Between thetwo lateral bars. of the central body are mounted, so as to be able tooscillate about rods 5, the frames 6 of the wings. Each wing (Figs. 1and 2) consists of a frame 6 pivoted about a rod 5 and having woodenbars crossing each other. The por- "tion of the frame which is outsidethe, central'body, is completed by a double system of wires 8 and 9intersecting each/other at a right'or other angle, the wires/8 servingas suspension means for louvers or shutters 10 and the wires 9preventing the shutters from turning over. These shutters areconstituted by canvas or silk bands which iirrana'rus ron AERIALNAVIGATION.

Specification of Letters Patent. 4 Patented Apr. 16, 1912. I.Appllcati'onfiled January 17,1908. Scria1No.411,2 94.

. can either be arranged as shown .in Fig. 1,

or substantially parallelto the axis of the apparatus. They aresuspended as at 8 from thewires 8 and connected to them by springs 11having the tendency to keep them in the plane of the frame of the wing,that is to say, so that the wing should form one continuous surface. 1

Movement is communicated to the wings, for the purpose of giving acertain elasticity to the wing strokes, by means. of bars 12 controlling0n the one hand, the frames 6 and connected on the other hand to aconnecting rod or lever operatedby the engine. The side .of the frame 6nearest to the axis .of the apparatus is connected tothe toplongitudinal member 2, by means of helical springs 13 for the purpose ofbalancing the work of the engine and of keeping the Wings with theirends downward in the position of rest. The springs- 13, are connected,on the one hand,'to the longitudinal girder 2, of the framework of theapparatus, and at the other end to the inner side 6 of the framework ofthe wing, orto the rods secured to the framework of the wing, but alwaysat a .point near the side of thejsaid frame which is inthe interior ofthe framework of the apparatus, the spindle 5, lates,,is between thepoint of application of that is to say, connected so that about whichthe Wing oscilQ the springs and the shutters 10. The power of the engineis transmitted by a pulley 14 to a spindle. 15, and from the latter, bymeans of chains, to the pulleys or wheels 16 and 17 one ,or the other ofwhich can be coupled to the'spindle 18 by means of a clutch 19. vTherotation of the shaft 18 is transmitted by the wheels 20,21, and 22 tothe shafts 23 and24 which are arranged at an angle relatively to eachother. spindles 23 and 24 are provided with cranks 25 operatingconnecting rods 26, and through them the bars 12 operating-the frames 6of the wings. The engine drives, directly or otherwise, the propeller 4by means of a universal oint 27, so as to enable the direction of thepropeller to be changed, and a rudder to be dispensed with. The machineis finally mounted on a frame 28 raised in front and provided at theback with two wheels 29.

The driver is in front, below the framework, and consequently in thebest conditions for operating and balancing the appa- The Y ratus, inwhich the heaviest weight, represented by the mechanisms, is arranged atthe back half.

The working of the apparatus is as follows :When it is desired to risein. the air, the engine 3 is coupled by means of the clutch 19 to thespindle 18 operating the wings. At the beginning of the upward course ofthe Wings, the shutters 10, owing to the resistance of the air, take anoblique position relatively to the plane of the wings,

so that the resistance to the movement during the whole of this ascentof the wings, is theminimum, and the working of the engine is almostcompletely absorbed by the has been attained, the number of strokes of.

the wings can be reduced or -stppped altogether, in which case thesprings 13 prevent them from becoming reversed, while the springs 11keep the shutters 10 in the plane of the frames 6 of the wings, so thatthe latter form a continuous horizontal surface acting as a parachute orpoise, so that in that Way a quick fall is-avoided, even in case of anaccident to the engine'or to any other part of the vessel. "Propulsionin the horizontal direction is given by the propeller 4, and steering iseffected by the inclination which can be given to it by means of theCardan joint 27.

Shutters similar to those of the wings, can be used on the central bodyof theapparatus and arranged, of course, in such manner that when itadvances or rises, they should be open.

' What I claim as-mv invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is1 In apparatus for aerial navigation the combination of wings forrising, shutters in said wings, a rigid frame for the wings, a propellerfor propulsion, means for pivoting the wings about two axes whichconverge toward the front end of the apparatus, a motor for operatingthe-wings a'n'd propeller, a bar on the lower part of the frame of thewings, means for connecting the bar to the motor, and springs forconnecting the frame of the wings to the body 7 of'the apparatus, andadapted to balance the operating effort of. the motor keep the wingspointing downward.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of and to two subscribing witnesses.

I MANFREDO FERRERO. Witnesses: CARLO TOSTA,

Lou s ALLEN.

